Wednesday, December 28, 2011

I didn't get many pictures of Christmas morning, but luckily Uncle Jason was there with his camera at the ready! He let me use some of his pictures, so here you are!

Emily and Jason gave us a picture frame with a note saying he would do our family portrait. I am so excited because we have never had an official family portrait done!! BEST GIFT EVER!! Elliott got to open this present, and it was very anticlimactic and very funny. I love the look on his face in the last shot

Here are some great gift-giving moments he captured. Lucy looks so beautiful in these shots, I think!

Let's take a moment to enjoy the many expressions of Lilly...

...too cute.

Lucy got a video camera from Santa, and she was so funny with it!! Jason captured her capturing EVERYTHING!!!! Look closely at each picture and you will see her camera lurking somewhere nearby.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

This year for our gift to Harmony and Had Abogi, Kristine and I got the grandkids together and had a photo session!! We haven't posted the pictures yet because we didn't want to give it away, but they have their gift, so here they are!

The last two years Mike has put together our Christmas cards, and he is amazing. I know you can't see the photos and words well, but here they are for posterity.

Yesterday we started a new Christmas Eve tradition...DIRTBIKING!! Lucy put her gear on, and Mike braved the cold to watch her go up and down the block. Elliott was still leery, but he DID sit on it in neutral for a bit. He was very proud of himself.

Archie had to get all pretty for Christmas Eve, so Mike gave him his first sink bath. He LOVES splashing.

Christmas Eve begins our festivities. We have a progressive dinner with Mike's family. We started at Jason and Kristine's for appetizers, or h'ordeuvres if you're fancy.

Archie's first Christmas present EVER!!!!

Then onto Harmony and Had Abogi's for the supper.

And more gifts.

A Korean tradition is to give socks for Christmas. You can see by his expression how Archie feels about this choice of gifts.

What you don't see is back to our house for dessert. Then we read one Christmas book, and sent the kids off to bed while Mike and I relaxed!

The kids were up at 5AM, where they rushed downstairs to find their goodies.

All gussied up for Church on Christmas Day.

Archie got a musical plush octopus from Santa. He likes it.

Later today, my family, the Wilsons and Emily and Jason, came over for a late brunch. I LOVE BRUNCH WITH MY FAMILY! I didn't get any pictures, but I'm hoping to steal a few from Uncle Jason sometime. We opened a few presents and talked and ate. What a perfect Christmas. All the better that it was on Sunday, so we could go to church and remember Christ with beautiful music and friends. I LOVE CHRISTMAS!! But, I have to wait another year to do this all again, good thing my birthday's next month, it lessons the pain just enough. My kids are happy, and I am happy. Another successful Christmas!

Monday, December 12, 2011

I am a traditions kind of lady. Just ask my parents, they'll tell you. At 19, I was the one insisting we still hang our stockings on Christmas Eve even though we were on vacation in Arizona and it had been a decade since my last letter to Santa. I love starting new traditions with my little family, and keeping up old traditions as well. Here are some that we do:

1. Driving to look at Christmas lights

2. Holiday goody baking with my sisters

3. Singing carols as we come down the stairs Christmas morning

4. making Christmas crafts of all sorts!

5. Christmas Eve progressive dinner with Mike's family

6 Christmas Day brunch with My family

7.On Christmas morning, we gather the gifts we have to give, and pass them out one by one so we can see everyone's reactions

8. Making poppy seed loaves that are "worth their weight in gold" (quoting Uncle Kimball), for all Mike's employees

9. Making Mother Laura's caramel corn!!!!

Tonight, for family home evening, that's exactly what we did. We had Kristine, Rowan, and Maric over, they brought their air-popper from Mike's childhood, and we made ooey, gooey, sticky, yummy corn! My Grandmother used to make it with my Dad, Pappa Lund, and then he used to make it with me and my brothers and sisters, and now, we are making it with my kids. It's as amazing as I remember.

First you air-pop the corn. This is a novel thing for the kids, and they love it.

Then you butter-up the bowl very well.

You don't use a candy thermometer, you use the old ice-water test, not pictured, and being the grown-up, I got to sample all the caramel tests! Lucy got to do all the fun stuff. She buttered the bowl, and sprayed the counter with Pam, so the corn doesn't stick while it cools. Then you dump it on!

Eat up everybody!

Is your mouth watering yet?

This post was brought to you by the memory of Mother Laura and our love for Pappa Lund!